Spains agreement to port U.S. ships at Naval Station Rota on the Atlantic coast will forge a deeper bilateral security relationship between the two nations and support NATOs missile defense system, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said here today.

Late in the afternoon on the first of two days of meetings among NATO defense ministers, Panetta, along with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero took the stage in Luns Auditorium at the alliances headquarters to announce the agreement.

Today the [NATO] security partnership takes a major step in the right direction, Panetta told reports at the briefing.

With four Aegis ships at Rota, he added, the alliance is significantly boosting combined naval capabilities in the Mediterranean and enhancing our ability to ensure the security of this vital region.

The relocation of assets is part of an ongoing U.S. effort to better position forces and defensive capabilities in coordination with European allies and partners, the secretary added.

"Good grief, we have had a Naval Presence in Rotat since I was in the Navy, in the early seventies, and this bozo takes credit for some kind of breakthrough? What an ass this administration is."

I was stationed at Rota from 79-81 after I re-enlisted for a shore rotation. We had a large US base leased from Spain, but never any ported US Navy ships. The only ship at the one dock was some pathetic Spanish ship (not sure of the class).

Unless things changed since then, this is good news. The more Aegis ships around the world, the better. I'm good with Panetta wanting this, not so much about other stuff he wants/does.

To be clear, it is a breakthrough. To port 4? (probably meant rotate - but then what do reporters know?) Aegis ships there is a very good thing in light of Iran developments. Sometimes even a blind squirrel (Panetta) can find an acorn.

Why? Spain is strategically located for missle defense with our Aeigis cruisers (actually more like destroyers/frigates nowadays). Their economy may be sinking, but they are very western in their society. I think this to be a very good thing. The more missle defense we have against rogue nations, the better.

"Rota is one of the best duty stations imaginable for a U.S. service person."

Some of the best times of my life, even though I was Shore Patrol there. Sometimes my dreams take me back to those days or I'm there again under new orders. I was there when the Armed Forces radio was our only in home entertainment, until VHS video came about. There were no TV broadcasts in English. I remember our family sitting around listening to old serials. Had to use your imagination.

There was an actual drive-in movie theater with loudspeakers (also a radio frequency) and we would do the whole tail-gate thing before, during, and after the movie. The weather was perfect.

Best duty of my 11 years Navy. It was like a small American town where everybody new each other and had home parties and socialized and had picnics and ballgames and such. I would go back to those days in a heartbeat.

"When I was 19 Uncle stationed me in Bangkok. Many of the guys, including me, extended their tours. Some took their discharges there and are still there more than 40 years later."

Made 3 WesPacs but never got liberty in Thailand. Heard nothing but great things about it in the late 70's and 80's. A lot of Navy/Marine also retired around Olongapo City, Philippines. Wonder if the retirees are still there after the PI kicked out the US military that supported their small bars around Subic City. Wonder how all those Magsaysay "hostesses" made a living after we left.

Just looked at this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7DaSuXD9ao and it looks like just one more slow small South East asia town. Use to be adult disneyland with bars/clubs the entire length of the street, and crowded day and night. Best times.

I grew up in one of those “American towns...” overseas as an Army Brat. The US Army pretty much owned Yokohama until 1959 when the Navy took over. All the Army colors and names were taken down in favor of Navy colors and names. Nasugbu Beach school (named for an Army battle in the Philippines) was renamed for Nile C. Kinnick.

Spain decided the US Navy was not required and in large measure it left Rota. We read daily of severe economic problems in Spain. Very high unemployment, death of green industry, possible inability to live up to bond covenants and on and on.

Desperately searching for revenue, the US Navy is not only a source of cash but of jobs.

It therefore seems logical for the massive injection of cold hard cash as military welfare.

From our point of view, there is a justification for renewing the relationship. Times are hard and still dangerous

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